The second track in PJ Far-West Selecta's myth-strewn musical odyssey "Rolling Calf" is nothing short of spellbinding. And if you thought "Obiah Man" was a vibe, "Rolling Calf" is the spirit-charged sequel that stomps through with even more groove, soul, and storytelling flair.
The result of all that is an album that allows you to voyage across the world as a pleasing mix of infectious rhythms and universal vibes blast out across 40+ years and counting of this master Genre-Hopper's career. In "Rolling Calf," he matches the high-energy singing of the Jamaican vocalist Sledge with the percussive invention of the Argentine drummer Dubmian, crafting a sophisticated sound that is rhythmically abundant and spiritually charged.
The song is steeped in Jamaican folklore and based on the gruesome story of the rolling calf, the ghost of a wicked person who, legend has it, prowls bamboo groves and dark alleyways searching for molasses and retribution. "Rolling Calf" is a buoyant, horn-kissed jam that generates energy and reaffirms PJ's patented dub-fusion spell.
The song thrives on contrast. It's whimsical but mystical, laid-back but urgent. Dubmian's drumming has a gritty rootsy pulse, while Sledge's singing is halfway between storytelling and fire-and-brimstone testimony. Together, they breathe life into the legend, bequeathing you a song and an experience like stumbling upon a folklore rave on a moonless Caribbean night.
It's visual storytelling, helped by Nigerian director Mark S., whose vibrant music video for the track turns it into a multimedia celebration of culture, rhythm, and mythology. It plays like a meeting of continents, stitched together by a common love of sound and soul. PJ Far-West Selecta has done it again, showing that musical borders disappear when people come together from different parts of music with such a bold vision, and you're just left with rhythm, story, and feeling.
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Reviewed by LyricalOdyssey Music
on
May 05, 2025
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